Publicis recently asked its employees to come in three days a week, effective post–Labor Day.

The holding company isn’t joking around: “Failure to meet the 3 day/week in-office expectation post Labor Day may impact performance outcomes, including salary increases, bonus payouts, and/or promotion opportunities,” a memo and email Publicis sent to employees, which Adweek obtained, read. It also stated that Publicis will no longer hire remote-only employees, or offer employees the option to accept lower salaries in exchange for more WFH time.

According to a recent McKinsey survey, about 58% of workers have the ability to work from home at least one day a week, with 35% saying they can WFH full-time. Nearly 90% of respondents said they take the opportunity to work from outside the office when offered. However, executives from companies like Omnicom have been outspoken about wanting workers back at their desks.

So where do the holding companies’ current WFH policies stand? Read more about what we found here.–KH

From HAL to Skynet, AI gets a bad rap. With its fast rise, buzzy headlines, and seemingly limitless potential, it’s hard to know if AI will help us or upend us. A pressing question on many employees’ minds: Will AI take my job?

MIT researchers offer a picture of the future of AI in the workplace. Read Tech Brew’s explanation of what artificial intelligence is capable of, what its probable use cases are, and the implications for your job. Hint: Predictions might be more complex and hopeful than you might expect. Read or listen here.

Just in time for the upcoming NFL season, DraftKings is betting on a familiar face and a new tagline to promote its sportsbook.

The sports-betting company is airing a new ad starting Aug. 21 that stars Kevin Hart—who’s been a DraftKings pitchman before, including in its Super Bowl campaign—and retired NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

• In addition to some banter between the stars, the ad features DraftKings’ new tagline, “the crown is yours,” which the brand plans to use for years to come, according to CMO Stephanie Sherman.
• DraftKings put its money on Hart as a spokesperson because his “comedic tone [and] ability to talk in a really simple way about our offerings” helps explain the product and promotions DraftKings runs, Sherman said.
• “We had an outstanding [NFL] season last year, and we know that having a consistent brand voice is important,” Sherman told Marketing Brew. “His humor really helps bring our brand message and our offering to life.”

Big picture: Several states have legalized sports betting in recent years, driving ad spend from major players like DraftKings. Gambling advertisers spent close to $866 million in 2022, a 40% increase year over year, according to MediaRadar.

In 2021, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars inked deals with the NFL to use certain league imagery for retail and online sports betting as the league’s official sports-betting partners. The NFL allows up to six sportsbook ads per game—one for the pregame, each quarter, and halftime.

Despite the surge in popularity, sports-betting companies have run into a fair amount of roadblocks and scrutiny: Recently, state regulators have started cracking down on sports-betting advertising, particularly when it comes to marketing to minors.

Read the full story here.–AM

Carla Dunham has held many impressive roles in the past, including high-level executive positions at Kate Spade and Amazon Fashion, and her last gig as chief marketing and merchandising officer at Foxtrot.

But when she started in her current position as CMO of DTC luggage brand Away, it came with a lot of…well, baggage.

The company was valued at $1.4 billion in 2019 after raising $100 million. But since the early days of the pandemic, Away has gone through major layoffs and furloughs after its sales dropped by more than 90%. It was reportedly even considering sale options earlier this year but has since shifted from that idea and focused on expanding its brand.

That’s where Dunham, who joined Away in late 2022, comes in. Her latest project is the re-release of Away’s Classic suitcases in seven new colors, which were developed through a “sustainability-first” lens, according to a company release, and are created with a higher portion of recycled materials in its components.

Dunham told Retail Brew that right now, her focus is “really connecting all facets of the funnel,” to not only engage Away’s core audience but also acquire new customers.

“The new reveal of our latest Classic Collection—that certainly is an anchor moment for us,” Dunham said. “But even prior to that, from 2020 to 2022, our offering increased by about 70%. So being able to really unpack all the communication channels that we have at our disposal, and to do so with intention—backpacks and different travel bags and travel accessories, as well as core luggage—that’s been a core area of focus for the marketing team.”

Read more of Retail Brew’s conversation with Dunham here.–JS

There are a lot of bad marketing tips out there. These aren’t those.

Tik, tik, boom: This guide covers how to best boost your SEO on TikTok.

Proof is in the pudding: This blog digs into how to use social proof to your advantage in marketing.

Stick the landing: This infographic goes over how to write a landing page that stands out.

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Executive moves across the industry.

• Doug Rozen, the CEO of Dentsu Media Americas, exited the agency as part of a broader restructure.
• Jeanniey Walden, who has served as interim chief marketing officer of Rite Aid since March, has been named full-time SVP and CMO.
• Wonya Lucas, president and CEO of Hallmark Media, will step down from her position at the end of the year.